The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-06-23
Blair Educational Bill.

public education TO allow interest to abate
political affairs. 1t is especially not well
to cease to manifest an active, aggressive
concern in behalf of the Blair Education
al Bill. For that reason we publish On the
FIRST page of the VIRGINIAN, the position
of the Republican party as formally an
nounced in National Convention on the
issue, as well as the recent action Of the
Pennsylvania Legislature in reference to
it. We also give an accurate history of
the legislation III Congress on the resolu-
ton prepared by Mr.. Blair himself. from
which 1t will be seen that he bill was
twice passed by q Republican Serate and
twice defeated or pigeon hoed by a
Democratic House. The Virginia De-
mocracy have been AS recreant on this
subject as the Democratic House of Rep
reeentatiyes. by convent ion and legisla-
tive resolve they declared for it, but that
was mere blind. John w. Daniel in the
House, who had declared for the Blair
bill, as a member of the Committee on La
Dor favored the Grain bill, which was de-
signed, as Mr.. Blair states, to kill the
measure of which he was the author,
and substitute for it bill which would
have proved q practical nullity. 1t pro-
yided, as we'll as we can now recall, for the
distribution of the proceeds of the sale
Of the public lands among the several
States for educational purposes but made
no discrimination on account of illiteracy.
1t did not, in its scope, meet the emergen.
cy of the times, nor in its details furnish
that aid and encouragement which were
contemplated in the original measure. 1t
was an invention, with no recognized pur-
pose. except to kill the Blair bill. 1t ac-
complshed that object, and as a cohse-
qpRnseeee Virginia and rr,u oyrar Southern
States. were deprived of a fund from the
national treasury, to assist in furnishing the
children of school age the rudimen is of
all education.
1t is the duty of the Republicans to press
this vital question upon the attention of
the people=-to keep it alive, until a pub
lie sentiment is created and crystalized
that will make it paramount issue in
every election. There can be no more im-
portant interests affecting the welfare of
the coming generation than education and
temperance. They are questions which
address themselves to the people and must
meet with popular endorsement when clear
ly presented. The Democratic party is
opposed to both. Intelligence and sobri-
ETY. are its natural foes. With an enllght-
ened public understanding to discriminate
beiw principles and policies and their
relat ion TO and influence upon the public
welfare, the Democracy would fall short
of public approval at the ballot box in eve
~ State of tie Union. With the rum
shops closed, and the influence Of the sa-
loon abated, a nursery of Democratic
strength would be wanting, The friends of
neither popular education nor temperance
can look to the Democratic party for sup.
port. They must draw their encouragement
from and achieve their success through
the Republican party, if they ever expect
|
the Republican party will have to recog-
nize duty that, in this respect, confronts
it. The timid and time serving may hes
itate and tremble at the proposition to be-
come arrayed against an influence which
has been so powerful in the country here.
tofore. But brave and true men, who be-
lieve that there is something more than a
name in the party-that it has mission
and that sound laws cannot be enacted or
sound government instituted and perpesu-
ated except through an educated and So
Der constituency, will not shrink from the
encounter. There is growing public sen
/ timent that cannot be arrested, or It's
strength impaired 10y the hating OF era
yens. and the near future will amply de-
monst tsstMat neither he Sadneatfeirti nof
temperance question can be lodged or ig-
nored by the politicians. The people will
demand definite, bold and uncompromising
utterances on these subjects. They will be
satisfied with no trimming. no doubling
and twisting, no cowardly evasions Or de
ceptive resolves, to obscure and mislead.
The little bosses and the big bosses who
concoct their schemes in the back rooms
and then project their plans upon thepub-
lie attention through hirelings and lacqueys
as the mandate and policy of the party. have
had their day. The people mean TO speak
on matters affecting their interest indie
pendent of secret conclaves and cut and
dried edcts. And if needs be they will ad.
minister such rebuke at the ballot box
as will not OIL attest their power, but thelI
aroused manhood and supreme contempt
for the tom-tit politicians who have pre-
sumed too far upon the credulty, the igno-
rance, the slavish subserviency of the masses
toring orders. The Republican party must
march abreast with the moral forces that
are upheaving and unsettling the old order
of thirgs. 1t must catch the inspiration
of the progressive times, and rise equal ia
4 the demand which an enlightened public
conscience is making and will continue to
make up political organizations. 1t cannot
lag among the fossils and lava beds,
but must move forward in the currents
which an advancing civ ilzation is mark
ing out. 1t must either do this, or meet
the fate of all obstructive forces which
plant themselves in the path OF human
progress. .-.,. "...
Important Decision.